Top Williamsburg How to Get Around - page 2

With its hundreds of years of history, it’s no surprise that Colonial Williamsburg has accumulated some macabre stories over the centuries—and you’ll learn all the local lore on this dark history tour. Meet your guide in the afternoon at the Capitol, and set off on foot. From tales of creepy secret societies to stories of sinister happenings, you’ll discover a side of Colonial Williamsburg that few other visitors encounter.

Learn all about a different side of early American history—and explore Colonial Williamsburg in the company of a costumed guide—on this small-group, pirate-themed tour. Pick between morning and afternoon start times, meet your guide right outside the Capitol Building, and set off on foot. In between admiring the centuries-old landmarks, you’ll learn about how piracy influenced American history—and can soak in your guide’s in-depth stories as you go.

Explore Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg, where America’s future was decided. This historical voyage transports you to an era that shaped our nation. See meticulously preserved colonial architecture, revolutionary battlefields, and much more as you explore these iconic destinations. Fascinating audio stories and historical reenactors bring the past to life with this easy-to-use tour bundle. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Join us as we explore the fascinating stories of women from all walks of life—each of whom played her part in the community’s development. From the beloved midwife whose knowledge and care were instrumental to the town’s health, to the famous schoolmistress who taught future leaders, these women were pillars of the community. Discover the Governor’s Lady, who maintained the standards of society, and the Councillor’s wife, who helped shape political circles from behind the scenes. Learn about the enslaved cook who worked closely with the Founders, displaying incredible skill and resilience, and even hear the tales of actresses who broke societal norms to entertain and inspire. .

Enjoy a time-saving way to discover the best of Colonial Williamsburg—and learn the stories behind the sights—on this private walking tour. Pick from a range of convenient start times, meet your guide in Merchants Square, and set off on foot. You’ll see highlights like the Governor’s Palace and Capitol, will stroll along the history-saturated West Duke of Gloucester Street, and will visit the adjacent College of William & Mary.

This tour is the only Ghost tour in Williamsburg specifically for small children. A unique experience recommended for children up to the age of ten. The Children's Ghost tour is designed for the smallest and most sensitive ghost hunters. A one-hour walk filled with entertaining and fun stories (this is not scary) for smaller children that your family can enjoy. All Children must be accompanied by at least one Adult (parent or guardian over 18 years old) traveler.

Get ready to explore the historic streets of Williamsburg like never before with Trivia Walks! Our captivating self-guided tour and scavenger hunt combo will take you on an immersive adventure through Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary’s campus, uncovering fascinating stories and hidden gems along the way. From early American history to modern secret campus hideaways, battlefield scars to pirate prisons and more, you’ll be immersed in the rich culture and heritage of the area. Along the way, places you’ll see include: - The original Capitol of Virginia - Colonial Williamsburg Courthouse - The first English American theatre - The Governor’s Palace - The Crim Dell Bridge - The oldest college building in America - ...and more!

This exclusive, private tour (only your group) highlights Colonial Williamsburg's Christmas traditions and picturesque holiday decorations of our historical area. This tour provides insight about the materials, crafts people, construction and design of the wreaths and garlands adorning the exterior of most 18th Century buildings, exhibits and private homes and different judging categories. We meet at The Williamsburg Inn to admire the decorations and begin our journey to the Duke of Gloucester. We'll discuss how holidays were celebrated in 17th and 18th Centuries here in Virginia including plantations, our Capital cities and during the Revolutionary War (e.g., Continental Army). Holiday biscuits by African descendants or traditional gingerbread cookies are offered. If before 7PM, we offer hot beverages. Note: Grand Illuminations are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of December (7pm fireworks). The Yule Log lightings are the first, second and third Fridays of December.

The Ghost Tour is Williamsburg's first and only murder-focused tour. Explore areas that other history tours would be afraid to visit. Explore a historic city that conceals a sinister and unsettling past. A netherworld of horrific death and hatred. Accompany your guide on foot to some of our favorite local watering establishments. To help you get ready for what's to come, try a drink with a murder theme or one of the pub's specialty beverages. Then, take a stroll through the dim, peaceful streets of Historic Williamsburg, where you may learn the real stories of the city's most notorious crimes. There's nothing ghostly about Williamsburg's scariest tour. It has to do with murder.

Experience Colonial Williamsburg on a private 2-hour walking tour that highlights the city’s most historic streets, landmarks, and stories. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, this experience blends must-see sites with hidden corners and authentic insights into 18th-century Virginia. Walk through charming avenues, scenic squares, and beautifully preserved buildings that shaped early American history. Learn about daily life, politics, traditions, and the people who influenced Williamsburg’s role in the nation’s beginnings. Hear engaging stories, discover local culture, and enjoy time for photos and questions as you explore the city’s top highlights. This private tour is perfect for first-time visitors, history lovers, families, and travelers looking to experience Williamsburg in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Exclusive, private tour (only your family/friends) of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (ARMY), some of the Yorktown Battlefields (Surrender Field), the federal museum (National Park Service with General Washington's original tent from the Battle at Yorktown in October 1781), Victory monument, and alleged cave where Cornwallis retreated. This is the only private tour with a private guide at all stops. This is NOT a group bus or group shuttle tour. This tour includes an in depth learning experience about the siege of Yorktown that lasted several weeks and explores the surrendering of arms on October 19, 1781 including Surrender Field. The afternoon tour at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown includes the canon firing at 3:00pm (weather dependent from March 1st-November 30th). We spend about 3 hours touring and about an hour driving which makes this a 4 hour tour. If we meet in Yorktown, then the tour is about 3 hours, slightly longer if anyone shops at the museums.

This private walking tour reveals the historic and cultural charm of Williamsburg. Step into an Old Town shaped by early American civilization. Walk through streets older than the United States. Discover stories that connect generations through heritage. In Colonial Williamsburg, history comes alive through engaging tales. What moments shaped this early community and its legacy? Cultural traditions and daily life unfold through stories designed to inspire all ages. Each step reveals a deeper connection to the past. Architectural landmarks reflect a classical era of growth and identity. Hear stories of transformation that shaped a young civilization. This journey blends education with exploration in a meaningful way. Experience a cultural adventure filled with history and storytelling. Discover a heritage that continues to inspire today. Please note: The program and attractions may vary based on booking date/time and crowd conditions, ensuring each visit is a unique experience.

Richmond, Virginia is celebrated for its over-the-top holiday lights displays every year—and this tour makes exploring them simple. In the evening, depart from Williamsburg via climate-controlled vehicle and travel to Richmond. You’ll learn all about the city’s history of tacky lights displays, will admire some of the best examples, and will even see the Christmas tree in front of the Virginia State Capitol.

The Holly Jolly Hunt offers a unique blend of affordability and engaging holiday activity, making it ideal for groups. Tickets are sold per team (up to 10 people), providing great value for families and friends. The hunt is self-guided and playable in any city decked out for the holidays, putting you in control of the schedule. The core of the game is its focus on fun and laughter, achieved by mixing the search for holiday items with silly photo missions and collaborative challenges. This combination ensures that the focus remains on group bonding and light-hearted, memorable competition to top the scoreboard.

Not all women were high-born ladies… many worked long and hard to survive. This walking tour will open your eyes to pieces of the past. Women were fully one half of the story, and you will learn about their roles as business owners and consumers. Over more than 325 years, the buildings in Williamsburg have had many lives and multiple uses, as social and political history was made both inside and out, shaping the community we know today.

America turns 250 in 2026. The celebrations are deserved. But the full story of those 250 years includes voices that were long left out of the official account. This private 2-hour walking tour traces the history of slavery in Colonial Williamsburg — the legal systems that enforced it, the buildings where enslaved people lived and worked, the courts that judged them, and the legislature that debated their lives as political abstractions. Your dedicated guide does not simplify this history or soften it. They bring it to life with care, context, and humanity. Colonial Williamsburg, the Courthouse, the Capitol Building, and the James Geddy House — each stop reveals a different dimension of a society built on enslaved labor. Understanding this history is not separate from celebrating America's 250th anniversary. It is essential to it.

America turns 250 only once. Williamsburg has been waiting for this moment longer than any other city in the country. This is where colonial America was debated, governed, and defined — where the ideas that became the United States were argued on the street corners, in the taverns, and in the Capitol building at the end of Duke of Gloucester Street. On this private 2-hour walking tour, your dedicated guide brings the 18th century to life with insider stories, behind-the-scenes history, and personal commentary you will not find in any guidebook. The Williamsburg Inn, Merchants Square, Bruton Parish Church, the Governor's Palace, and the Capitol — each stop on this tour is a chapter in America's founding story. In 2026, walking these streets carries a weight no other destination can match. This is not a museum. This is a living city. And in America's 250th year, it has never felt more alive.

During this 1-hour walking tour, learn the complexities of Virginia's decision to seek independence from England. Discover the challenges faced by the men of the House of Burgesses as they ultimately chose to declare Virginia's independence and learn how this pivotal decision influenced the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Please note: Due to staff participation in other events, tours may be unavailable on some days. Please see our website for information. *Shades of Our Past is not affiliated with Colonial Williamsburg; therefore, this tour does not include entrance or admission into Colonial Williamsburg-owned buildings. Since the tour is through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, it is weather contingent. Please be prepared for all weather conditions.

Perfect for groups looking to bond while exploring the city, this Williamsburg Zombie Scavenger Hunt Adventure is a self-guided walking challenge. Work with your group of up to ten to track down items and complete challenges. This budget-friendly activity is one price for your group and is led by an app you can download on your smart phone.

We will discuss the different philosophies of architectural preservation between Europe and the United States during the late 19th and 20th Century and how it applies to the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. The restoration materials of Colonial Williamsburg had to appear as if they were constructed in the 18th Century. For example, the roofs of many of the reconstructed buildings were man made fire retardant composites, and the masonry emulated the original bound of the public buildings. When the Main College was rededicated as the Wren building, credit was given to the the famous English Architect, Sir Christopher Wren. However, there is no proof that this is true. The base of this building is a Flemish design as opposed to the English bond. As the Wren building stands today, it is a redesign of the building that existed in 1733. It will be a comprehensive discussion of the vision of Rev. W.A.R. Goodwin and John D. Rockfeller, Jr. that resulted in Colonial Williamsburg.

There’s something for everyone at Busch Gardens Williamsburg — the theme park with a European twist. Get your heart racing on dozens of thrilling rides and attractions inspired by Old World legends, including the Griffon, Loch Ness Monster and Alpengeist coasters, plus the Land of Dragons and other kid-friendly areas. Grab a pint at the Oktoberfest beer hall, dine at an authentic Italian ristorante, and catch live shows like the Celtic Fyre Irish extravaganza for a day of international fun!

Celebrate the holiday season with a spine-tingling twist! On this lantern-lit ghost tour through Colonial Williamsburg, you’ll discover the chilling legends and eerie tales hidden beneath the festive glow of garlands, candles, and wreaths. Hear stories of yuletide spirits, winter hauntings, and mysterious happenings that prove not all is merry and bright in Virginia’s most historic city. Blending Williamsburg’s rich history with holiday lore, this unique experience is perfect for those who love a little fright with their festivities. Bundle up, bring your curiosity, and prepare for a Christmas ghost tour unlike any other! Tour duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Family-friendly; kids under 6 are free Real stories from costumed characters Meets at the Capitol, rain or shine

Have you ever wondered how our modern Christmas traditions began? Join us for a 1-hour walking tour through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, where your guide will reveal the colonial Christmas celebrations that shaped our current traditions. You'll also learn how the decorating style of Colonial Williamsburg influenced decorations across the nation. Shades of Our Past is not affiliated with Colonial Williamsburg; therefore, this tour does not include entry to any buildings owned by Colonial Williamsburg. The tour takes place through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg and is subject to weather conditions. Please be prepared for various weather scenarios. Additionally, the advertised tour route may change based on activities in the Historic Area. Please note that tours may be unavailable on certain days due to staff participating in other events. For more details about these programs, please visit our website.

Dare to experience the #1 ultimate ghost hunt tour in Williamsburg, where real history meets real hauntings every night, year-round! Led by expert guides—this USMC Disabled Combat-Veteran-Owned, experience takes you deep into the eerie past of one of America’s most haunted cities. Feel the chilling presence of spirits as you visit Bruton Parish Church, the Governor’s Palace, Peyton Randolph House and Burial Grounds, and Market Square & Magazine. From witch trials to scandalous murders, hear the twisted tales that still haunt Williamsburg today. Equipped with ghost-hunting gear, track paranormal activity as you wander through the historic district. Every shadow and whisper could be an unseen visitor making their presence known! While we don’t enter buildings, this ensures you visit as many haunted locations as possible. This unforgettable ghost hunt is packed with mystery, history, and spine-tingling encounters. Ready to uncover Williamsburg’s darkest secrets? Join us—if you dare!